[05/20/14 - 10:38 AM]ABC Wins Its 5th Straight Week in Adults 18-49, Posting Its Most-Watched Non-Oscar Week Since November and a 9-Week High With Young AdultsABC spins the numbers for the week of May 12-18.

[via press release from ABC]

Primetime Ratings Report for the Week of May 12, 2014
(Based on National Live + Same Day Program Ratings)

ABC Wins its 5th Straight Week in Adults 18-49, Posting its Most-Watched Non-Oscar Week Since November and a 9-Week High with Young Adults

ABC is Monday's Most-Watched Net for the 5th Consecutive Week

ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" is Up Week to Week and Year to Year

ABC's "Castle" Season Finale Spikes 31% in Adults 18-49 to Tie a 6-Month High

"S.H.I.E.L.D." Finale is Up in Adults 18-49 and Boosts its Hour by 82% Year to Year

ABC's Freshman Season Finale of "The Goldbergs" Gains 15% in Adults 18-49

"Modern Family" Logs its 2nd-Straight Week of Growth in Viewers and Young Adults

ABC's "Nashville" Season Finale Builds to its Largest Audience Since January

ABC's "Grey's" Finale Grows to 11-Week Highs in Total Viewers and Adults 25-54

ABC's "Black Box" Dominates CBS' "Elementary" Finale with Key Women

ABC is No. 1 on Each of the Final 7 Fridays of the Season in Adults 18-49,

"Shark Tank" Closes Out its Best-Ever Season in Viewers and Young Adults

"Barbara Walters: Her Story" Delivers a 2-Year High in its Time Slot with Viewers

ABC Dominates the Final Sunday of the Season in Adults 18-49,
Winning All 4 Sundays of the Sweep and Growing 5% May to May

ABC's "America's Funniest Home Videos" Finishes Out its 24th Season at
No. 1 in its Hour in Adults 18-49 for 4 Weeks Straight and Equals a Season High

ABC's "Billboard Music Awards" is Sunday's No. 1 TV Show, with its Most-Watched Telecast in 13 Years, an 11-Year High in Adults 18-49 and a 10-Year High in Teens

Week No. 34

ABC won the final complete week of the 2013-14 season (w/o 5/12/14) by 20% in Adults 18-49 over runner-up CBS (1.8/6 vs. 1.5/5), finishing No. 1 for the 5th week in a row and continuing its longest winning streak in 7-1/2 years - since a six-week stretch at the start of the 2006-07 season. The Net has now ranked No. 1 on 7 of the last 12 weeks in the key young adult sales demo, and, on average since the end of the Winter Olympics, ABC ranks as the top-rated TV network by a margin of 5% over CBS (Most Current data for 2/24-5/18/14): ABC (2.3/7), CBS (2.2/7), NBC (2.0/6) and Fox (1.7/5).

· ABC grew week to week in Total Viewers (+14% - 7.2 million vs. 6.3 million) and was up for the 3rd straight week in Adults 18-49 (+6% - 1.8/6 vs. 1.7/5), delivering its most-watched non-Oscar week since November and a 9-week high in young adults - since w/o 11/18/13 and 3/10/14, respectively.

ABC finished as Monday's most-watched TV network for the 5th week running, outdrawing runner-up NBC by 20% (13.1 million vs. 10.9 million). In addition, the Net took 2nd on the night in Adults 18-49 (2.2/6), beating Fox with "Bones" and "24: Live Another Day" by 22% (1.8/5) and CBS' lineup by 69% (1.3/4). ABC was the only net up over the prior Monday, as "Dancing" and "Castle" spiked week to week in Adults 18-49, surging 21% and 31%, respectively. ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" semi-finals was the night's most-watched TV program overall.

"Dancing with the Stars" (8:00-10:01 p.m. - 14.4 million and 2.3/7 in AD18-49):

From 8:00-10:01 p.m., ABC's "DWTS" stood as the night's most-watched TV series for the 9th week in a row, topping NBC's "The Voice" head to head by 3.3 million viewers (14.4 million vs. 11.1 million). 2014 Olympic Gold Medalist, Charlie White, was eliminated in the semi-finals.

· "Dancing" grew week to week in viewers (+10%) and young adults (+21%). In addition, "DWTS" was up over the same night last year (05/13/13) in Total Viewers (+8%) and Adults 18-49 (+15%), building year to year for the 6th time in its last 7 telecasts.

"Castle" (10:01-11:00 p.m. - 10.6 million and 2.1/6 in AD18-49):

During the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's season finale of "Castle" shot up week to week in Total Viewers (+18%) and Adults 18-49 (+31%), drawing its largest overall audience and equaling its best young adult performance in 6 months - since 11/4/13. Standing as Monday's most-watched scripted telecast on its finale, the ABC drama ranked No. 1 in the hour in Total Viewers, Women 18-34 and Women 18-49 (tie), also posting its best numbers since November in key Women - since 11/4/13.

· On average this season, "Castle" grew its overall audience by 3% (12.6 million vs. 12.2 million), marking the series' most-watched season overall.

Tuesday

"Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." (8:00-9:01 p.m. - 5.4 million and 2.0/7 in AD18-49):

During the 8 o'clock hour opposite season finale competition, ABC's first season finale of "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." was up 5% week to week in Adults 18-49, matching its 2nd-highest number in the hour in 9 weeks - since 3/11/14.

· Against the season finale of CBS' "NCIS," NBC's "The Voice" and Fox's "Glee" finale, "S.H.I.E.L.D." ranked No. 2 in its hour across all key Men (M18-34/M18-49/M25-54), while finishing as the No. 1 scripted series in its slot with Men 18-34 on all 22 original airings in its first season. On average during its freshman season, the new ABC drama was Tuesday's No. 1 TV show with key Men (M18-34/M18-49).

· "S.H.I.E.L.D." improved its time period by 82% in Adults 18-49 year to year, surging over the same night last year with original programming (1.1/4 for "Wipeout" on 5/14/13).

"The Goldbergs" (9:01-9:31 p.m. - 4.3 million and 1.5/5 in AD18-49):

During the 9:00 p.m. half-hour, ABC's freshman season finale of "The Goldbergs" was up 15% week to week in Adults 18-49 to earn its 2nd-highest rating since the beginning of April - since 4/1/14. The ABC comedy also increased over the prior week in Adults 18-34 (+11%) and Women 18-49 (+23%).

· On the night, ABC's freshman finale of "The Goldbergs" tied NBC's freshman finale of "About a Boy" (9:30-10:00 p.m.) in Adults 18-49 (1.5/5 vs. 1.5/4 - pacing within 1-tenth and leading in share). In fact in the Live + 7 Day ratings, "The Goldbergs" will move well ahead of "About a Boy," as the ABC comedy gets a much bigger average increase this season from its Live + Same Day number than the NBC comedy (+0.9 rating or 53% vs. +0.5 rating or 25%).

"Trophy Wife" (9:31-10:00 p.m. - 2.8 million and 0.9/3 in AD18-49):

During the 9:30 p.m. half-hour, ABC's "Trophy Wife" finale was up week to week by 12% in Total Viewers and by 29% in Adults 18-49.

At 10:00 p.m. against drama finales on CBS and NBC, "Celebrity Wife Swap" held steady week to week in Adults 18-49 and was up for the 2nd consecutive week with Women 18-49 (+8%) to tie a season high.

Wednesday

ABC once again delivered Wednesday's No. 1 TV program in Adults 18-49, with "Modern Family" ranking as the evening's top-rated show for its 9th-consecutive original airing. During primetime, ABC's "Modern Family" (3.2/10) outdelivered the top shows on each of the other nets by strong margins, beating CBS' "Criminal Minds" finale by 19% (2.7/8), Fox's "American Idol" by 52% (2.1/6) and NBC's "L&O: SVU" by 100% (1.6/5). Building 13% week to week in Adults 18-49, the Net equaled a 6-week high on the night - since 4/2/14.

· The Net ranked No. 1 on the night for the 2nd week in a row with Women 18-34.

"The Middle" (8:00-8:30 p.m. - 7.1 million and 1.9/7 in AD18-49):

At 8:00 p.m., ABC's "The Middle" increased week to week by 8% in viewers and by 19% in young adults, hitting a 3-week high with in Adults 18-49 - since 4/23/14.

"Suburgatory" (8:30-9:00 p.m. - 5.2 million and 1.6/5 in AD18-49):

At 8:30 p.m., the finale of ABC's "Suburgatory" grew 23% week to week in Adults 18-49.

· "Modern Family" was up for the 2nd week in a row with Total Viewers (+6%) and Adults 18-49 (+10%).

"Mixology" (9:31-10:00 p.m. - 4.0 million and 1.3/4 in AD18-49):

In the 9:30 p.m. half-hour, ABC's "Mixology" was up 5% in Total Viewers and held even with the prior week in Adults 18-49 (1.3/4).

"Nashville" (10:00-11:00 p.m. - 5.2 million and 1.3/4 in AD18-49):

During the 10 o'clock hour, the season finale of ABC's "Nashville" was up for the 2nd-consecutive week in Total Viewers (+11%) and gained 8% in Adults 18-49, drawing its biggest audience since January and a 6-week high in young adults - since 1/29/14 and 4/2/14, respectively.

· On average during its sophomore season, "Nashville" grew its overall audience from its freshman season (7.0 million vs. 6.9 million).

· "Nashville" is ABC's biggest percentage gainer this season from TV Playback and Top 3 among all broadcast series, with originals jumping up 80% from a 1.5 L+SD rating to a 2.7 Live + 7 Day Adult 18-49 rating.

Thursday

With a repeat "Grey's Anatomy" at 8:00 p.m., the season finale of "Grey's" at 9:00 p.m. and "Black Box" at 10:00 p.m., ABC won Thursday in Women 18-34 to rank as the No. 1 broadcaster on the night for the 12th week in a row.

· ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" was the No. 2 TV series of the night in Adults 18-49, behind only CBS' "The Big Bang Theory" finale, beating the "Idol-Thursday" finale.

Nearly quadrupling its Adult 18-49 lead-in at 9:00 p.m. (+271%), ABC's season finale of "Grey's Anatomy" shot up to dominate its hour by 30% over Fox's finale of "Idol-Thursday" (2.6/8 vs. 2.0/6). The ABC drama also won its hour over "Idol" in Total Viewers, Adults 18-34 and Adults 25-54.

· "Grey's" was up over the prior week by 13% in Total Viewers and by 4% in Adults 18-49 to draw its biggest audience since its mid-season return in February - since 2/27/14. Among Adults 25-54, the show was up 7% to hit an 11-week high - since 2/27/14.

· On average, "Grey's Anatomy" finished out its 10th season with gains in both Total Viewers (+10% - 12.1 million vs. 11.0 million) and Adults 18-49 (+5% - 4.3/12 vs. 4.1/11), delivering its highest numbers in 4 and 3 years, respectively - since the 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons. "Grey's" is the 2013-14 season's No. 1 broadcast drama in Adults 18-49 (tie) and Adults 18-34.

"Black Box" (10:00-11:00 p.m. - 4.3 million and 1.1/4 in AD18-49):

In the 10:00 p.m. hour, ABC's "Black Box" beat the final hour of NBC's "Rosemary's Baby" mini-series by 16% in Total Viewers (4.3 million vs. 3.7 million) and tied in Adults 18-49 rating (1.1/4). In addition, the ABC drama ranked as the No. 1 broadcast program in the hour with Women 18-34 (tie) and Women 18-49, leading CBS' "Elementary" finale by 83% and 13%, respectively.

Friday

With "Shark Tank" shifting back an hour for its season finale at 8:00 p.m. (last year's finale aired at 9:00 p.m.) and "Barbara Walters: Her Story" from 9:00-11:00 p.m., ABC won its 4th straight Friday of the May Sweep in Adults 18-49, finishing No. 1 on the night for the 7th consecutive week and beating NBC's original line-up by 45% (1.6/6 vs. 1.1/4). ABC also won the night in Total Viewers, Adults 18-34 and Adults 25-54. The Net posted its most-watched Friday of the season.

· "Barbara Walters: Her Story" was the No. 1 TV show of the night in Total Viewers (9.5 million) and Adults 25-54 (2.3/7) and ranked No. 2 in Adults 18-49 (1.6/6), behind only "Shark Tank." This season, "Shark Tank" finished as Friday's No. 1 regular TV series on 26 of its 28 original telecasts in Adults 18-49.

"Shark Tank" (8:00-9:00 p.m. - 6.7 million and 1.7/7 in AD18-49):

The "Shark Tank" season finale shot to the top of the 8 o'clock hour and delivered a season high for ABC in the time period with Adults 18-49. In fact, the show turned in ABC's highest young adult rating in Friday's 8:00 p.m. hour since November 2012 - since 11/9/12. "Shark Tank" was up from its year-ago telecast in the hour (5.1 million and 1.3/5 in AD18-49 on 5/17/13) in Total Viewers (+31%) and Adults 18-49 (+31%). Please Note: Last year's finale aired at 9:00 p.m., coming out of the 8:00 p.m. "Shark Tank." And compared to 3 years ago, when the "Shark Tank" finale last aired in the 8:00 p.m. hour (5.0 million and 1.3/5 in AD18-49 on 5/13/11), the show was up by 34% in Total Viewers and by 31% in Adults 18-49.

· On average during its 5th season, "Shark Tank" delivered double-digit growth in Total Viewers (+16%), Adults 18-49 (+14%) and Adults 18-34 (+20%), scoring its best-ever season across all 3 Nielsen measures and marking its 3rd straight year of young adult gains.

"Barbara Walters: Her Story" (9:00-11:00 p.m. - 9.5 million and 1.6/6 in AD18-49):

From 9:00-11:00 p.m., ABC's "Barbara Walters: Her Story" dominated its 2-hour slot in Total Viewers, Adults 18-49 and Adults 25-54, delivering the Net's biggest overall audience in the time period in nearly 2 years - since 6/15/12.

Sunday

With the season closer of "America's Funniest Home Videos" and the "2014 Billboard Music Awards," ABC dominated the final Sunday of the season/May Sweep in Adults 18-49 (No. 1 in all 8 half-hours), more than doubling CBS with its season finales (+121% - 3.1/10 vs. 1.4/4). In fact, the Net won all 4 Sundays of the May Sweep in Adults 18-49 and on average was up 5% on the night May to May (2.1/7 vs. 2.0/6). ABC was also the most-watched network overall on the evening, outdrawing CBS (+7% - 9.8 million vs. 9.2 million). ABC's "Billboard Music Awards" was the No. 1 TV show of the night in viewers.

· Excluding only the night of the Academy Awards, ABC marked its strongest Sunday since November in viewers and young adults - since 11/24/13.

"America's Funniest Home Videos" (7:00-8:00 p.m. - 6.8 million and 1.6/6 in AD18-49):

Building its overall audience by 8% week to week (6.8 million vs. 6.1 million) and holding steady in Adults 18-49 (1.6/6), ABC's 24th season finale of "America's Funniest Home Videos" drew its biggest audience in 8 weeks (since 3/23/14) an equaled a season high with young adults. The ABC video clip show ranked No. 1 in the hour for the 4th week in a row with Adults 18-49.

"2014 Billboard Music Awards" (8:00-11:00 p.m. - 10.7 million and 3.5/10 in AD18-49):

ABC's 3-hour telecast of the "2014 Billboard Music Awards" delivered an across-the-board win, topping its 8:00-11:00 p.m. time slot in Total Viewers, all key Adults (AD18-34/AD18-49/AD25-54) and Teens 12-17.

· Surging by 1.2 million viewers year to year (10.7 million vs. 9.5 million) to deliver its 2nd year of growth, the "Billboard Music Awards" scored its most-watched telecast in 13 years and equaled an 11-year high in Adults 18-49 - since 2001 and 2003, respectively. In addition, the annual show was also up for the 2nd year with Teens 12-17 (+6%) to deliver its top rating in 10 years - since 2004.

· "The Billboard Music Awards" was Sunday's No. 1 most social program with 5,450,160 tweets, shooting up 25% year to year (vs. 4,358,169 tweets on 5/19/13) for its highest number ever.